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Brazilian F1 fans turned out in droves to witness the final home start of Felipe Massa's career. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

F1 reports an eight percent rise in attendance from 2016

More than four million spectators attended Grand Prix events this season

December 11, 2017

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Formula 1 has reported an eight percent increase in track attendance during the 2017 season according to a report released by the sanctioning body.

Overall, 13 races recorded an increase in attendance, with five seeing lower numbers than the previous season. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, widely considered the most exciting race on the schedule, reported a 58% percent increase.

Two races -- Monaco and Abu Dhabi -- reported no change year over year.

In absolute terms, the Canadian and the Austrian Grands Prix saw the biggest increases, each boasting 60,000 spectators more compared to the previous year across the entire event weekend.

Events in Russia, Japan, the United States and Mexico all reported drops compared to 2016, with Suzuka reporting the largest overall percentage drop-off at 5.84 per cent.

"The 2017 season was a great spectacle, on and off track, thanks to drivers, teams and, most of all, fans, the beating heart of our sport," F1 commercial chief Sean Bratches said. "An attendance of more than 200,000 per event means that for 20 weekends per year, the population of a medium-sized city visits a race track to watch to a Formula 1 Grand Prix.

"Our duty is to make each of these events even more entertaining to unleash what is the greatest racing spectacle on the planet."